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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

While my suse 9.3 is loading I get a black screen. This happens like right after everything seems to be loaded and it appears it's going to KDE. I still have a cursor...and I can move it. However the whole screen other than that cursor is black. I believe this has to be some type of driver problem. I have a evga 6800 non-ultra. I've had similiar black screens on live cds such as DSL, and Feather Linux.

You could try to boot into console (type '3' on the initial grub screen) and run the graphics configuration with 'sax2'. Then try to start KDE with 'startx'. This is how I would do it on an installed system. I guess it should work on a LiveCD as well.

When you get to the black screen, can you switch to console (Ctrl+Alt+F1)? If this is possible, try to login as root (probably empty password) and type first 'init 3', then 'sax2'.

I don't know much about SUSE LiveCD's, but are you sure there is no initial menu, right after boot? At this screen, it should be possible to pass options to the kernel, before the system is booted. You could try different vga= values for example:

At first I assume a sound failure as I had no sound.
Switching to DVI produced a black screen after going into run level 5 with sound (turned out it was plugged into the DVI's sound slot, but this took me some time to realise)!

The problem turned out to be the output from the video card switching between DVI and HD15 analogue connectors.

Luckily I had all the video connections made to my monitor so it was just a question of switching the sound input on the monitor to ensure I got a GUI with sound.

Still dont know cause or cure for no DVI in run level 5 but working in level 3, but as I dont need the DVI for any major purpose I can live with HD15 analogue.